Marvel made a point to highlight Spider-Man’s significance as the MCU moves forward from his initial introduction. But, in what movies did Peter Parker have the most significant impact? How did his involvement in the story push it forward or help the overall narrative? Of course, Spider-Man’s abilities are always a help to the situation, whether it be a small battle or a world-altering decision. But, in different movies, the MCU used Peter Parker differently as his time in the world grew, and the franchise worked to figure out where he fits and how he is most critical.
What makes Peter Parker’s role significant? A small or large role in a movie? How do team-up stories compare to Spider-Man films? Peter Parker’s overall arc is influenced by every appearance he makes in a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, starting with his first introduction in Captain America: Civil War. Afterward, the franchise continued to show Peter Parker’s relationships with Tony Stark and Doctor Strange, and how he behaves in large battle scenarios such as Avengers: Endgame or Spider-Man: Far From Home. Every Spider-Man appearance does something for the movie Peter Parker shows up in, but how do those appearances influence the MCU or Peter Parker’s character?
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6 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Considering Peter Parker is only introduced in this film, and it is not even his movie, Captain America: Civil War ranks last. Captain America: Civil War, in addition to introducing friction between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, which temporarily broke up the Avengers, also acted as a launching pad for new faces, Spider-Man and Black Panther. Tony brings Peter into the fold by asking for help in stopping Steve.
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However, other than revealing Peter in his apartment, his Aunt May, and showing some of his fighting abilities, including stealing Captain America’s shield, Peter Parker does not have much to do. Finally, Peter has an idea that helps take down a very large Ant-Man, but Tony tells Peter to stay out of the remainder of the fight once he has gotten injured. At which point, Peter’s role in the movie is over, and the aftermath would continue in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
5 Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Marvel Studios
Like Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Endgame is a team-up movie in which Peter Parker does not have a huge role. However, his influence and involvement are far more critical. Peter is a crucial reason Tony agrees to the time travel plan. When the Avengers succeed in bringing everyone back, Spider-Man is one of the heroes that carries the infinity gauntlet away from Thanos, and in the process, gets fun, and brief moments with several other characters.
Peter Parker’s role may be limited to the final battle and Tony Stark’s funeral in the movie’s entirety. However, his influence over Tony was a factor in him changing his mind to risk everything, suggesting how essential Peter Parker had become.
4 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Sony Pictures Releasing
The first Spider-Man MCU movie follows Peter Parker in the aftermath of Captain America: Civil War. Excited by having worked with the Avengers and ready to step up beyond the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter continually texts and calls Happy, hoping to hear news about joining in on more significant world-saving events. Spider-Man: Homecoming dives deeper into the growing friendship between Peter and Tony, while also committing to trying to show Peter as being a hero in his own right.
However, as critical as Spider-Man: Homecoming may be to Peter Parker’s journey, it lacks the ambition of Far From Home and No Way Home, while also losing out to the world-saving stakes portrayed in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Spider-Man: Homecoming does a solid job of showing more of what to expect from Peter Parker in his personality and how he uses his abilities and journey to understand where he fits into saving the world. The central romantic conflict does not even carry over to future movies as MJ, who plays a supporting role throughout the film, steps up in future installments as the main love interest replacing Peter’s crush on Liz in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
RELATED: Why Spider-Man (2002) is Still a Top-Tier Comic Book Movie
3 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
When Peter sees something attacking New York, he can not just stay on the school bus. Escaping his classmates ends up being for far longer than he expected when Peter joins Tony Stark and Doctor Strange in space. However, it is not just a fun ride through the atmosphere. Instead, Peter tagging along, brings him to Titan with Tony and Strange, where they meet Peter Quill, Drax, Nebula, and Mantis in anticipation of defeating Thanos. On their side of the battle, Peter helps distract Thanos, and almost succeeds in getting the gauntlet off of Thanos with Tony.
However, when they fail, Peter swings around, catching everyone, and brings them to safety. Avengers: Infinity War has Tony officially consider Peter as an Avenger. Although Peter is one of the most devastating deaths at the movie’s conclusion, his role has been helpful and significant to his growth as a character.
2 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Considered a very ambitious sequel, Spider-Man: Far From Home must balance being a grieving process, action movie, and love story. Peter’s wishes to confess his feelings for MJ are balanced out by Mysterio’s criminal behavior, massive action sequences, and the emotional aftermath Peter feels toward Tony’s death. In addition, Peter does not have the advantage of this being a team-up film, as Peter must shoulder the burden without the rest of the Avengers to help him deal with a fake threat with real consequences.
However, while Spider-Man: Far From Home may be critical for Peter’s growth as a character, it also works to Ned and MJ’s advantage, portraying how their characters grow as people and helping defeat villains. But, one of the most crucial moments is the end, when Spider-Man’s identity is shockingly revealed, allowing No Way Home to take on the consequences.
1 Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
In a change of pace new to any Spider-Man movie, Peter Parker must deal with the terrifying reality that the world knows his identity. However, he is not just known as a hero. Instead, the reveal also has him considered a criminal. If any Spider-Man movie shows how much Peter Parker has grown, it is this one. Balancing on the edge of comedy and drama, Peter’s life is changed forever in so many ways by the film’s ending. Peter makes a life-changing sacrifice to save the world. Although no one will remember Peter Parker, the universe will be saved, and Peter can figure out how to live his life again later. Spider-Man: No Way Home brings in Doctor Strange to help Peter, while also re-introducing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s portrayals of Spider-Man.
In a movie that features three Peter Parkers, it gives time to show their similarities and differences and show how Tobey and Andrew’s portrayals would grow up. Spider-Man: No Way Home pushes the MCU forward and leaves unlimited possibilities for what Tom Holland’s Peter Parker could do next when the world does not remember him.
